Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Distance: 0.2-11 miles
Elevation Gain: Less than 500ft
Type: Loop
With flat stretches and steep hills (that are groomed in winter), this trail is very popular with mountain bikers, trail runners, and cross-country skiers. It was built on landfill, so as it expands, these trails will change. Most of it is rolling forest that has covered the gravelly moraines left by retreating glaciers. Birch, spruce, and cottonwood are the dominant trees here, and you’ll be hiking through forest most of the time. (Keep an eye out for eagles, which often perch in the cottonwoods near the landfill). It’s a maze of trails, but markers and maps should help you from getting too turned around. The Swamp Loop near the trailhead provides a relatively easy trail for first-timers. About 1 mile in is the popular Mooseberry Mesa trail (1.5 miles long)—a twisting, turning single track designed for mountain bikes. (Hikers are allowed but horses aren’t, as the soil won’t support them.) Most of the other trails are wide and groomed for cross-country skiing as the snow permits, but these same trails tend to be muddier than others. Don’t forget that you’ll have to pay the Mat-Su Borough parking fee or obtain a permit.
Features: Kid Friendly, Bicycling, Skiing, Running
